Acca and Bet Builder Free Bets: How to Use Them Well

More and more UK welcome offers give you an acca or bet builder free bet instead of one you can use on anything. In other words, you can only use your free bets on accumulators or bet builders. They’re still worth having, but they work differently, and a few simple choices make a big difference to how often they pay out.

What is an accumulator free bet?

An accumulator (acca) combines several selections from different events into one bet. Every selection has to win, and the odds multiply together. An acca free bet is a free bet token you can only use on an accumulator that meets the offer’s rules, usually:

• a minimum number of selections, for example 4+ or 5+ legs;
• sometimes minimum odds per selection, for example each leg at 1/5 (1.2) or bigger;
• sometimes minimum combined odds;
• and a time limit, often 7 days from when it lands in your account.

What is a bet builder free bet?

A bet builder (also called “Same Game Multi”, “Request a Bet” or similar, depending on the bookmaker) lets you combine several markets from one match into a single bet. For example: Arsenal to win, over 2.5 goals and their centre-forward to score anytime. The bookmaker gives you one combined price. You can only use a bet builder free bet on this kind of bet, sometimes with a minimum number of selections.

Unlike an acca, bet builder selections are linked. If Arsenal win, more goals and a goal for their striker are more likely too. The bookmaker allows for that in the price, so bet builder odds are usually lower than multiplying the individual prices together.

What are they really worth?

Every free bet loses a little value to the bookmaker’s margin (the built-in edge in the odds) and to the stake you don’t get back. With accas and bet builders the margin is bigger:

• In an acca, the margin compounds with every leg. Four legs at a 5% margin each leaves about 81% of fair value; seven legs leaves about 70%.
• Bet builders often carry a bigger margin than singles, because of how bookmakers set the combined price.

Working it through with typical numbers, a £10 acca or bet builder free bet at combined odds of around 5.0–10.0 is worth roughly £6–£7.50 in the long run. You’ll either win a nice chunk or get nothing on any one bet. That’s a little less than a standard free bet, which is why offers paid as acca or bet builder free bets usually score lower on our estimated value than the headline suggests.

How to get the most from an acca free bet

1. Use the minimum number of legs. If the offer says 4+, use four. Every extra leg adds margin and another way to lose.
2. Aim for decent combined odds. Because the stake isn’t returned, a free bet at combined odds of 2.0 keeps very little. Somewhere around 4.0–10.0 is a sensible middle ground.
3. Avoid very short “bankers”. A 1.1 favourite barely changes the price but can still lose. Most acca offers set a per-leg minimum to stop this anyway.
4. Bet on big, well-traded markets. Premier League match results, major tennis and big horse races have the tightest margins. Check our live odds comparison for the best price.
5. Check which markets the offer allows. Some acca free bets are football only, or exclude certain markets.
6. Use it before it expires. Put a reminder in your phone for the day after you get it.

How to get the most from a bet builder free bet

• Keep it simple. Two or three sensible selections (or the minimum the offer asks for) usually beat a long, speculative builder.
• Build around one idea. Linked selections, like a favourite to win plus over 1.5 goals, carry linked prices, so you won’t get “free” odds, but they do win more often than random combinations.
• Check the minimum odds and selections on the free bet, and whether you can use it on any match or only certain leagues.
• Know the void rules. If a player in your builder doesn’t start, bookmakers handle it differently. Some void that leg, some the whole bet. Check before kick-off.

Can you lock in acca or bet builder free bets?

With a standard single free bet, matched bettors lay the same selection at an exchange to lock in a profit. That’s much harder with accas and bet builders. You can cover an acca leg by leg (“lay as you go”), but it takes more work and more money in the exchange account. You usually can’t cover bet builders cleanly at all, because exchanges don’t offer the same combined markets. That’s why we normally rate these offers medium or advanced on Sports Compare rather than easy. For most people, the simplest approach is just to use them as a normal bet with sensible selections.

Welcome offers with acca and bet builder free bets

These bookmakers currently pay part or all of their welcome offer as accumulator or bet builder free bets. Open any offer to see the exact rules:

Prefer a free bet you can use on anything? Browse the easy offers or read how free bets work.

Acca and bet builder free bets FAQ

Can I use an acca free bet on a bet builder?

Not unless the terms say so. Some offers allow either (for example “use on a bet builder or accumulator”), but most acca free bets need selections from different events, and most bet builder free bets need selections from the same match.

What happens if one leg of my acca is void?

Usually the bookmaker removes the void leg and settles the acca on the remaining legs at lower odds. But if that takes you below the minimum number of selections, some bookmakers void the whole free bet. Check the offer terms.

Can I cash out an acca free bet?

Cash out is often not available on free bets. Where you can, the offer is usually lower than for a cash bet because the stake isn’t returned.

Does acca insurance apply to free bets?

Generally no. Acca insurance and “one leg lets you down” promotions are normally cash-stake only, so check the terms before relying on it.

Are bet builder free bets worth claiming?

Yes, as long as the qualifying bet makes sense for you. They are worth a little less than a free bet you can use on anything, which is why we show an estimated value on every offer so you can compare them fairly.

18+ only. New customers only, T&Cs apply to every offer. Accumulators and bet builders win less often than singles, so only bet what you can afford to lose. Visit our responsible gambling page or call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.